Iran and Argentina submit an application, foreign media: the influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism will be further enhanced
[Global Times Special Correspondent in Iran and Brazil Huang Peizhao Qin Rui Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yiliuzhi] The just-concluded 14th BRICS Summit not only reaffirms that emerging market countries are increasingly becoming an important force in the world, but also highlights BRICS" attraction.
According to a report by Itar-Tass news agency on the 28th, Iran and Argentina have applied to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism.
Russian President's International Affairs Assistant Ushakov said on the 27th that Russia is satisfied with the results of the 14th BRICS leaders' meeting hosted by China and supports the expansion.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 28th that China will work with BRICS partners to steadily advance the process of expanding the membership and allow more like-minded partners to join the BRICS family.
"The Iranian and Argentine governments have submitted applications to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism." On the 27th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova announced the news.
"As the White House thinks about cutting, banning or destroying something in the world, Argentina and Iran have applied to join the BRICS," she wrote on social media.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Khatibzad confirmed the news on the 27th.
He said a series of consultations had been held in advance on Iran's membership.
"BRICS" is an innovative mechanism covering a wide range of fields, and it is hoped that Iran, as a member in the future, will contribute to the work of the BRICS and benefit the mechanism.
At the online meeting of the BRICS Business Forum held recently, Iranian President Rahi said that Iran is ready to use all capabilities, including unique energy reserves, cheap transportation networks and well-trained and experienced human resources, to help BRICS countries achieve their goals.
Argentine President Fernandez also recently reiterated that Argentina wants to join the BRICS.
The Merk News Agency, which focuses on Latin America and South Atlantic affairs, reported that Fernandez expressed his desire to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism when he attended the high-level dialogue on global development by video.
The Argentine head of state said that the BRICS countries account for 42% of the world's population and 24% of the world's GDP.
And Argentina's advantage is that "We are a safe and responsible food supplier, recognized in the field of biotechnology and applied logistics technology. This means that we are not only capable of producing and exporting food. We also know how to provide services and train experts so that other Countries can increase productivity and thus improve the quality of life of their inhabitants.”
The BRICS cooperation mechanism was created in 2009 by China, Russia, Brazil and India. Since South Africa joined in 2011, the mechanism has not attracted new members.
As early as 2015, former Argentine President Cristina Cristina said that the BRICS countries should further expand their membership and attract other developing countries to join them. Argentina hopes to join them.
RIA Novosti on the 27th quoted Babaev, Acting Director of the Institute of Far East Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as saying that the BRICS countries have reached the level where they can expand their members, and some countries want to join the BRICS countries, indicating that they are interested in this form of cooperation.
At present, an expanded cooperation model, namely "BRICS+", already exists, and some countries have joined.
Zhao Lijian said on the 28th when answering a reporter's question about the expansion of the BRICS: "We have noticed that many countries, including Iran and Argentina, have expressed their positive willingness to join the BRICS. As the BRICS chair this year, China has actively Support the BRICS countries to start the process of expanding their membership and expand BRICS+ cooperation." Zhao Lijian said that since the establishment of the BRICS mechanism, it has been closely linked with the fate of the vast number of emerging markets and developing countries.
Faced with the current situation of a century of changes, a century of epidemics, and the overlapping of international hotspots, the BRICS countries agreed to strengthen cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries, further enhance the representativeness of the BRICS mechanism, and issue statements on major international and regional issues. A louder "BRICS voice" will continue to make efforts in jointly addressing challenges and safeguarding the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.
Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post" published an article titled "How the Expanded BRICS Leads the World" on the 28th, arguing that no matter what role the "BRICS+" chooses to play in the world in the future, it will bring great changes to the operation of the world.
Taking the global food shortage as an example, Argentina is the second largest corn exporter in the world, after the United States.
Saudi Arabia, participating in the BRICS+ dialogue, holds a 35% stake in Olam Agri, one of the world's largest suppliers of cocoa, rice and coffee, through its investment vehicle, the Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company.
Add in rice and wheat in India, barley and sunflower oil in Russia, cotton in China and soybeans in Brazil, and the enlarged BRICS countries have a sack of grain the world wants.
"BRICS+" has the possibility of establishing a grain exchange to meet the basic needs of countries to buy wheat, rice or corn.
The article mentioned that in addition to global food shortages, the world is still struggling to cope with the energy crisis.
Considering that the combined output of Russia and Saudi Arabia is close to 20 million barrels a day, no group has so far been able to bring together oil exporters and importers.
"BRIC+" may change this.
The "Middle East Online" news network said on the 27th that the BRICS team has continued to grow, highlighting the thriving status and role of this cooperation mechanism. After the expansion, its influence will be further enhanced.